I partly agree with you, Ebbie. I think guns can give people a false sense of security. However, there's bear country and there's bear country. I've never worried about being armed in black bear country. However, grizzly and polar bear will hunt people, and although I have no particular fear of them, I do recognize that they are fast, strong and in a bad mood can be very antagonistic. Hence, I'd prefer to have something that makes a loud noise and can spit out a projectile at 2000' per second. I have been in bear country numerous times and I have never once shot a bear or even unshouldered the rifle.